The Great Miami Marlins Mistake

(AP Photo)

 

By Devin Pangaro | @devinpangaro

The 2012 season was meant to be the start of something big in South Beach. The team formally known as the Florida Marlins abandoned their old identity and rechristened themselves the Miami Marlins, adopting a brand new look. Like a high school nerd returning from summer break with a flashy new wardrobe and a brash attitude, the Marlins set forth to abandon everything that once defined them.

Sure, maybe their uniforms were in dire need of an alteration. Teal is, after all, so 90's. However, is a grossly enlarged M on the hat truly an improvement? With the odd multi-colored scheme and futuristic design of the current uniforms bringing back memories of the ill-fated "Turn Ahead the Clock Day" from 1999, it became increasingly difficult to take this team seriously. Unfortunately for Marlins fans, the joke doesn't end there. This season has been nothing short of a disaster. Let's take a look at what went wrong.

Management:

When the always entertaining and always outspoken Ozzie Guillen agreed to take his managerial talent to Miami last fall, in theory it seemed like a match made in Heaven. Since his arrival however, it's been the exact opposite. Until recently, he quelled his usage on his controversial yet largely incoherent personal Twitter feed, but that hasn't stopped him from running his mouth.

When evaluating Guillen's stint in Miami thus far, it's easy to see how his off-the-field antics may have contributed to the on-the-field woes of his team. When hired, it was thought that his ethnic background and passion for the game would appeal to the Latin population of Miami, who have historically avoided attending Marlins games. In April, Guillen promptly professed his fondness and respect for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, shocking and seriously offending the Miami Cuban exile community. The backlash that followed brought upon national attention to a Marlins club that was focused on the opening of a new stadium and a new era in their history. With the community livid with Guillen's words, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and President David Samson suspended Guillen for five games without pay and donated $150,000 to a few Human Rights based charities.

To his credit, the humbled and embarrassed Guillen issued a public apology to the Latin community. However, the damage had been done. Instead of welcoming droves of new fans at the gate, the Marlins ownership now had the issue of picketers calling for Guillen's termination and protesting the games outside of the brand new Marlins Park located in the heart of Little Havana and funded by taxpayers money. With the season barely underway, Guillen had committed the cardinal sin of alienating a fan base that the organization had desperately sought to embrace.

Players:

To further complicate matters, Guillen seems to have reached a disconnect with his team as the season has gone on. As the losses mounted and it became obvious that the Marlins would not contend, the tension has grown stronger within the clubhouse. Recently reliever Heath Bell, who was removed from the closer role earlier in the season, lashed out in the press when asked about his manager. Complaining about the lack of communication and perturbed by his demotion, Bell claimed that "it's hard to respect someone that doesn't tell you the truth, or doesn't tell you face-to-face”.

Heath Bell, of course, was one of three high profile and pricy additions the Marlins made over the off-season in an attempt to beef up their roster. While their efforts to sign Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson ultimately came up short, they were able to come to agreement with steady starter Mark Buehrle and All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who signed the largest and most lucrative deal in franchise history.

With the addition of the flashy former Met, the temperamental Hanley Ramirez was forced to move to third base to accommodate Reyes. While Ramirez expressed joy in playing alongside his fellow countryman, it soon became obvious he was neither comfortable nor happy at his new position. As Ramirez struggled defensively and offensively, he was shipped to the Dodgers before the trade deadline in a deal designed to get him out of town.

Mark Buerhle has been, well, Mark Buerhle. He has walked very little (1.9 BB/9), and pitched to 1.18 WHIP and 3.84 ERA in nearly 200 innings pitched. More importantly, he has supported a struggling rotation that has dealt with an inconsistent and still recovering Josh Johnson, and the underperforming Ricky Nolasco and combustible Carlos Zambrano.

Steve Cishek has emerged from the bowels of middle relief to usurp Bell as closer and provide 14 saves and counting with the help of setup men Mike Dunn and Ryan Webb. To be honest, the pitching hasn't been horrible. The offense, on the other hand, has been a major problem.

With the challenging dimensions of Marlins Park all but guaranteeing a drop in team power, the Marlins offense has failed to deliver across the board in 2012. Although, a healthy Reyes has enjoyed a fine season hitting .285/.346/.433 and the titan Giancarlo Stanton has proven without a doubt that there is no park that can hold his prestigious power. The fact remains that outside those two the majority of the Marlins have struggled immensely hitting the ball.

Logan Morrison battled injuries and failed to perform when he did play. Gaby Sanchez regressed and was subsequently demoted then traded to Pittsburgh. Veterans John Buck and Carlos Lee have been completely useless, and Chris Coghlan has never found the stroke that earned him a .321/.390/.460 mark in 2009 and netted him Rookie of the Year. As a team, they're at the bottom of the league in runs scored and have hit a lowly .245/.309/.399.

Ownership:

It's understood that baseball in Miami is a business, and the Marlins are the product. It's easier to question the Marlins ownership in light of everything that has backfired in 2012. While the intent to drum up attendance was clear, it doesn't excuse some of the moves they've made. From the comical home-run installation in centerfield complete with the bizarre ferris wheel and aquarium to the living, breathing distraction that writes the line-up card each game, nothing has made sense in Miami.

The Marlins are currently mired in last place, with an attendance that ranks in the bottom half of the league. That rancid smell is a rotting, toxic team that is just dying for this nightmare season to end. Beware Marlins fans, more changes are on the horizon.

Devin Pangaro is a Staff Writer for FanSided.com's Swingin' A's Blog and Columnist at Big Leagues Monthly | Magazine.